The Abstract Art of John L. Payne: Solar Storm (20 x 30 acrylic on canvas)

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Solar Storm (20 x 30 acrylic on canvas)

This painting was inspired by the Mayan Prophecy of doom for 12/2012 as well as the Bad Company song Burnin' Sky. (I told you the 70's influenced me!!) I was asked to paint this very quickly and as a demonstration of my techniques during the July first Friday artwalk outside of Randy Bacon Studio's and Figment gallery. It was very hot and I had some serious competition as the painting cockroaches from the zoo were working just across from me. (really??)

Since I was rushed I was using liquid acrylics, a credit card, squeeze bottles and paint squeezed straight from the tube onto the painting. It was what you might call an observed exercise in automatic drawing, but with an idea hanging out in the back of my mind.?? I see a large citi-scape relected on water with the Burnin' Sky evidencing the fulfillment of both Mayan and Biblical prophecies as the sun reeks havoc on the earth and its inhabitants

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Artist Bio

Born in Oklahoma, John Payne began drawing and painting at the age of six. Though educated and involved in the arts well into college, his life and career path drastically changed when he enlisted into the United States Nuclear Navy at the age of 21. As a submariner, chemist and nuclear plant operator, safety became an integral part of his daily life. After leaving the Navy he followed a similar path working in radiation/chemical safety and ultimately as an Environmental Health and Safety Manager for over 20 years before returning full time to his passion as an artist. John is motivated by the works of the mid-century expressionists and current abstract artists alike. While some of John's work is pure expressionism, many of his pieces are more ordered in their chaos. This effort to control the abstraction with a sense of “boundaries” is reminiscent, states the artist, of the efforts we all make to live passionately while still attempting to conform to moral and social responsibilities. John’s work is thought provoking and often littered with social and philosophical commentary. As a Navy veteran John has traveled across the USA and to other countries as well, experiencing sights and cultures which have served as inspiration to his work. After 20+ years of working in the corporate world with art as his hobby, John has recently abandoned “the grind” to pursue his work as an artist in earnest. He offers that the decision was not only overdue but "very liberating". John lives in Springfield, Missouri with his wife Pattie and two dogs.